March 26, 2017
Sunday News
Morning Edition
VIBRANT
INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE
Earlier this month we started a new
outreach program, sharing our
Sunday morning webcast using
Facebook Live! The response has
been overwhelming. In the first few
weeks, we have reached over 6,000
new viewers. Over 2,000 of them
chose to worship with us online!
Many people shared messages of
joy and gratitude with us by email
and via Facebook:
“I sure am glad now that I can
watch the service live on Facebook.
I sure do miss the church but I
hope to visit in a few months. I
enjoyed the service last week and
this week.” - Melissa D.
“Tremendous, heartfelt,
emotional..... Thank you, God
Bless!” - David R.
“Nice to attend when we are a
couple of hours northeast of
Toronto!” - Linda H.
“Watching from Salem, Oregon!” Linda S.
“Watching from Alberta!” - Susan K.
“How exciting to find myself here
with my MCC Family & on
Facebook” - Lynn M.
Visit our Facebook page every
Sunday morning and make sure to
click the share button so that your
friends and family can also join us
in worship!
“Love you MCC Toronto along
with the choir!” - Bruce W.
Kevin Coutu—Worship Tech
Team Leader, MCC Toronto
For more news & events visit our website: www.mcctoronto.com
Offertory
Order of Service
Peter Henderson grew up
in rural Ontario where he
spent many hours sitting in
front of his parents' old
Zenith console singing
along to the likes of the
Carpenters, Elvis, Englebert
Humperdinck and Tammy
Wynette. After university,
Peter studied classical voice
at the Royal Conservatory
of Music in Toronto. Peter
credits his love of music to
his mother, who sang
around the house in a
beautiful, unacknowledged
soprano voice as she went
about her task of looking
after 8 children.
Patti Jamieson has been a
member of MCC Toronto
for twelve years, and a
member of the choir for
eight years. She is also a
member of Pride and Joy,
and was a featured
performer at one of the
Bridges to Hope and
Freedom events, the 2009
Voices for Hospice Concert,
the MCCT Arms Open
Wide concert, MCCT’s
Leading Ladies concerts
with Jackie Richardson and
at the Christmas service at
Roy Thomson Hall in 2011.
At the  symbol, please rise as you are able.
Welcome
Prelude
We Are Not Alone
Call To Worship
 Processional
Great Is Your
Faithfulness
 Opening Prayer
Anthem
Walk A Mile
Prayers of the
People
Sacred Readings
Lessons for Life
Together on the
Journey
Time of
Reconciliation
Spirit of the Living
God
Prayer of
Reconciliation
Affirmation of
Freedom
Invitation to
Anointing
Like A Healing
Stream
God Of Second
 Jesus’ Prayer
Offertory
Humble and Kind
performed by Patti
Jamieson and Peter
Henderson
Gathering Our Gifts
Our Journey of Faith
Holy Communion
Give Us This Day
Softly and Tenderly
A Wonderful Saviour
Breathe
 Benediction
 Closing Words
Closing Song
This Is The Day
MCC Toronto Clergy
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M.
Morning Worship Pastor: Rev. Deana Dudley
Evening Worship Pastor: Rev. Sandra Morris
Alternative Worship Pastor: Rev. Carmen Llanos
First Reading
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 2: 9-10
John 14; 11-12, 15
Believe me that I am in God and
God is in me; but if you do not,
then believe me because of the
works themselves.
Very truly, I tell you, the one who
believes in me will also do the
works that I do and, in fact, will
do greater works than these,
because I am going to God….”If
you love me, you will keep my
commandments.
But, as it is written, “What no eye
has seen, nor ear heard, nor the
human heart conceived, what God
has prepared for those who love
God”— these things God has
revealed to us through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches everything,
even the depths of God.
Voting Eligibility
Later this year, the Members in
Good Standing of MCC Toronto
will have an historic opportunity to
vote for our new Senior Pastor.
You are a Member in Good
Standing if:
You are regularly in attendance.
You have attended a Membership
Reception.
You volunteer at the church.
You have received an income tax
receipt from MCC Toronto for
2016 OR you are eligible for an
income tax receipt in 2017.
If you have any questions about
your membership, please contact
[email protected]
For more information about our
Senior Pastor Search, please visit
board.mcctoronto.com and click
Senior Pastor Search in the menu.
Membership Classes
Upcoming Membership Classes:
Sunday, April 23rd 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Triangle Room A
Tuesday April 25th 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
Upcoming Membership Receptions:
Sunday, May 28th – Sanctuary
For Your Smiling Spirit
Typos from Church Newsletters:
“We were moving to a new town
and our church had a going away
meal at our location…..food was
delivered to some that couldn’t get
out and the newspaper reported
that “sinners’ were delivered to
shut ins…instead of dinners”
Congregational Update
from your Board of Directors
As part of our commitment to more regular, transparent and timely communication with
the Congregation we want to highlight some of our recent activities. We meet bi-monthly
and will provide you with the key points arising from our meetings. In addition, on our
Board website , you can find a variety of Board documents, including the Board Roles and
Responsibilities, our role as a “Policy” Board, our slate of individual responsibilities, and
our strategic plan.
Senior Pastor Selection update
On March 6 we formally launched the public stage of our Senior Pastor
Search with ads and applications on our own new MCC Toronto Board
website (board.mcctoronto.com/#senior-pastor-search), our global
denominational website (mccchurch.org/connectnow/jobs/) and in both
the March print version of the United Church Observer and on the on-line
version (www.ucobserver.org/classifieds). We are encouraging people to
share this information with those in your network who you think may be
good candidates or who can help us identify good candidates.
Applications will be open until Friday April 7th. After that the Senior Pastor
Search committee will go through a process of screening and interviews that
will lead the Board to the decision on a final candidate who will be
presented to the congregation, after which all members in good standing
will be invited to cast their vote. We will be providing the current list of
voting members in April so you can verify your status.
In the background we have been proactively identifying and reaching out to
several qualified individuals who may be interested in applying.
We are committed to being open and embracing our core values in our
search – spirituality, advocacy and diversity. We will not be limited based on
gender, orientation, nationality, denomination or cultural background. We
are a vibrant, inclusive and progressive Christian church community and we
will live these values in our discernment.
We are also fine-tuning our communications plan to gather input and engage
the staff and congregation. We will fully utilize our various communication
vehicles to communicate and seek input. We in the process of developing a
FAQ (“Frequently Asked Question”) sheet which will be available on the
Board website soon. If there are any questions or insights you want to
share, please contact any of the Search committee directly in person or via
our email address: [email protected]
Financial update
We had previously approved a balanced Operating Budget for 2017.
Revenues and expenses are predicted to rise by 2%. Our budget, while
attempting to reflect the reality of our financial situation, is none-the-less a
bit disheartening in terms of postponed investments in our people and
infrastructure that inhibits our ability to move ahead more ambitiously with
the work we are called to do.
An Infogram (visual depiction of revenues and expenses) has become a
popular format for communicating our financial health and is included on
the following page.
Lori Boyce, Chair, Governance Committee
Who will be our next Senior Pastor?
board.mcctoronto.com
Full sized versions of this infogram available at our Information Centre.
Here is where our money comes from…
8%
35%
Restricted
Funds
Automated
Giving
$1,328,200
17%
Regular
Offerings
6%
Ministry
18%
16%
Major Gifts,
Corporate &
Grants
Major
Event Revenues
…and where it goes.
10%
9%
Major Event
Expenses
Peace and
Justice
5%
19%
Community and
Spirituality
$1,327,702
18%
Worship and
Music
Denominational
Support
39%
57% of expenses are Worship
and Music and Operations
Operations
Explore volunteer opportunities on our new volunteer website!
Browse all the great volunteer opportunities at MCC Toronto
on our new volunteer website!
volunteer.mcctoronto.com
Stop, Think, Recycle!
Happening This Week
“Don’t throw it away, it can be used
in some other way!”
In accordance with
our green strategies
and environmental
responsibility, MCC
Toronto has partnered with Think
RecycleTM to provide a FREE and
convenient way to recycle your
unwanted electronics. Protect the
environment by diverting harmful and
toxic e-waste so it doesn’t enter landfill sites. mcctoronto.com/recycle
Grace & Gratitude (AA)
Monday| 7:30 p.m. | Triangle B
Expansive Spiritual Gathering
Thursday| 11:00 a.m. | Rm 109
The Choir
Thursday| 7:00 p.m. | Social Hall
Happening Today
Help us to make
MCC a PlasticBottle-Free Zone!
Thrift Shop
All morning| Social Hall
Children & Family Ministry
11:00 a.m. |(3-8 yrs.) Rm 109
11:00 a.m. | (9-11yrs.) Triangle Room A
Life Long Learning Meet & Greet
12:30 p.m. | Triangle Room A
Evening Elevation Service
7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
Lenten Sermon Series
For all the worship
details about our
Lenten sermon series
please visit our website:
mcctoronto.com/lent
Ban the Bottle




Better for your
health
Better for the environment
Decrease your carbon
footprint
More cost-efficient
Purchase your own branded
reusable, stainless steel water
bottle from the SJN and the
Children’s Ministry for only
$20.00.
Enjoy nature’s best refreshment
and pledge to use your re-usable
water bottle.
Webcasting Worldwide
Gift of Art for Easter
Combine your creative flair and
technical skills to broadcast MCCT
to the world!
Celtic Art: True Healing
It will be amazing to be part of a
church where you can watch a
service live or recorded from the
comfort of your home.
Words & Vision:
“Whoever calls
out to the Lord
for help”
Join our vibrant webcasting team!
We need camera and soundboard
operators! Training will be
provided. Please contact Fabricio
at [email protected]
The ultimate
Easter gift for
the artist or
designer in your
life! See it in the Thrift Shop today!
A balance of rhythm, tempo and
melody.
Soulful Worship and Praise
Soulful Worship and Praise is seeking:
 New singers for our choir.
 Passionate readers for scriptures.
 Talented musicians.
 Hospitable persons for ushers.
 Creators for multi-media.
If you would like to assist in any of these areas, speak directly with one
of the Soulful Worship and Praise (SWaP) team leaders - Brenda Lee
(Refugee Support Team), Deacon Sandra, Deacon Randy, or Catherine
Meade. [email protected] (will be directed to SWaP)
Senior Pastor Search deadline: April 7
We are now inviting formal applications for the role. The job description
and application form are available online: board.mcctoronto.com/
#senior-pastor-search. Please share this information with anyone that
you believe would be a good candidate to become our next Senior Pastor!
Tips Everyone Should Know…
“Fishing Tips: How Curiosity
Transformed a Community of Faith”
Beyond leadership and individual coaching.
Lessons and nuggets you can apply for a lifetime. Eye-opening and challenging with one
tip after another for your personal growth and
development.
Only 5 copies left! @ $20 each.
Please contact Annie Menezes at
[email protected]
Life Long Learning
Preparing - Sacred Texts and Scripts
MCC Toronto is offering an exciting Adult Spiritual Education Program
which runs from April 3rd - May 17th and includes 18 evening sessions (7-9
p.m.), facilitated by 20 experienced leaders and
teachers.
Wednesday April 5 - Reading the Bible Using a
Progressive Lens
Participants will learn and discuss what the Bible is…
and what it isn’t, when viewed through the lens of
Progressive Christianity and Modern Scholarship.
Gain tools and understanding to appreciate the Bible
with new eyes and to debunk historical interpretations
that have served to oppress others.
Facilitator: Rev. Deana Dudley
Wednesday April 12 - The Bible and
Homosexuality
Rev. Hawkes sheds light on popular
misconceptions about the Bible’s condemnation of
homosexuals and offers an interpretation of Scripture
as it applies to homosexuality, renewing the comfort,
hope and healing originally intended.
Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M.
Wednesday April 19 - Meditations and Musing on
Love
Bring stillness into your daily life through guided
group meditation and contemplative practice while
exploring spiritual readings which point the way to a
more love-filled and abundant life.
Facilitator: Valerie de Souza
Visit our new Life Long Learning website (learning.mcctoronto.com) for
more information about these courses and all of our Spring 2017 offerings!
Easter Flower Fund
Each year our Sanctuary is adorned with Easter flowers made possible by
the contributions of our congregation. If you would like to contribute to
our Easter Flower fund, please compete this form.
DEADLINE: Sunday, April 6. Place in offering basket in a sealed envelope
or FAX to 416-466-5207 or scan & email to [email protected].
Fill out this form online! mcctoronto.com/easter-flowers
I/We wish to make a gift of [ ] $30 or greater $____ toward Easter flowers.
Name(s): ___________________________________________________
Your name(s) will be printed in Sunday News unless ‘anonymous’ is chosen below.
Address: ___________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________Email: ____________________________
Please share that this gift is: (to be printed in the News on Easter Sunday.)
a) in honour of:
___________________________________________________________
OR b) In celebration of:
___________________________________________________________
OR c) In memory of:
___________________________________________________________
OR d) This gift is anonymous ____
Method of Payment: ____ Cheque / Cash included
____ Charge the TOTAL GIFT amount to the following Credit Card:
Card Number: _______________________________________________
Name on the Card: ___________________________________________
Expiry: ____/____ CVV:____ Signature:___________________________